Name: Old-Fashioned Baked Apples
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American, German
Ingredients: 6 baking apples, preferably Fuji or Gala; ½ cup (packed) dark brown sugar; ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon; &frac18; teaspoon ground nutmeg; &frac18; teaspoon salt; 1½ tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small chunks; 1½ cups apple cider or apple juice; 2 tablespoons brandy or bourbon (optional); 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon; Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Old-Fashioned Baked Apples

By Jenn Segal

Easier than apple pie but just as satisfying, baked apples are the perfect cozy dessert for a chilly night.

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Total Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes

Ingredients

6 baking apples, preferably Fuji or Gala
½ cup (packed) dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon salt

1½ tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
1½ cups apple cider or apple juice
2 tablespoons brandy or bourbon (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon
Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
Using the smaller side of a melon baller or a sharp-edged measuring teaspoon, core the apples, leaving the bottom ½ inch of the apples intact, and remove. (Do not use an apple corer, as it's hard to prevent the corer from going all the way through the apples.)
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Place the apples in a 2 to 2.5-qt baking dish (they should fit snugly). Spoon the brown sugar mixture evenly into the apples. Top each apple with a chunk of butter.
In a liquid measuring cup, combine the apple cider (or juice), brandy (if using), and lemon juice. Pour around the apples. The liquid should come about 1 inch up the sides of the baking dish. Add more cider if necessary.
Bake for about 45 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Let cool for a few minutes, then carefully transfer the apples (and some of the cooking juices, if you like) to serving bowls. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 apple
Calories: 227
Fat: 3 g
Saturated fat: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 50 g
Sugar: 41 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 1 g
Sodium: 57 g
Cholesterol: 8 mg

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.